Outreach for vital health services in rural Kenya

Update on Health Services in Turkana - rural Kenya

By Andrea Miles - Project Co-ordinator

Merlin's health project is continuing as planned in three areas of Turkana. The total number of people benefitting from this project is 203 383. These people live in the districts of Turkana Central, Loima and Turkana South, in the most remote region of north west Kenya.

Project Summary Update

Merlin is offering health care from 18 outreach sites (when a mobile clinic drives to the community and sets up a clinic once every 2-3 weeks) and 6 static clinic sites. The main groups of patients are women (with a priority to pregnant women and new mothers) and children (especially those under 5 years of age). The clinics offer obstetrics, other post and pre natal care and a full range of primary health care to make sure babies, toddlers and infants grow up healthy and strong.

Merlin have also set up a program of community based maternal health services and have trained and deployed 60 safe motherhood promoters - these are women chosen by their local communities and who are known and trusted by everyone who lives in the village. The community health workers have been taught to identify and refer those women who are seen as at 'high risk' during their pregnancies. This training has helped alleviate the number of unnecessary deaths and meant that more children continue to have a mother to look after them, which in turn means the children have a healthier future.

Achievements to date include:

Increased numbers of women have attened family planning classes and are attending antenatal classes (target of each woman attending 4 antenatal classes).

Increased number of births conducted by a skilled attendant (which has meant a reduction in the number of new borns and mothers dying).

Increased numbers of children immunized - in line with the target of a 10% rise each year.

A 90% increase in pregnant women being tested for HIV (over 3100 to date) and referred for treatment.

A large rise in the provision of drugs, medicines, medical equipment and trained health staff throughout the area.

District health authorities have managerial support, are able to collect useful data for planning future health services and have set up tighter monitoring and coordination activities.

The project is planned to continue in the same areas in the longer term. The local authorities have asked for similar programs to be set up in other areas and Merlin is now assessing potential funding streams. Any donations offered will help Merlin to continue the work in Turkana - helping to save more pregnant women, mothers and their children.

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